Golf ball retriever



J1me 1940. c. CHRISTENSEN v 2,205,345

GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventorCZr/es 62/1325? sew Attorneys June 18, 1940. C, cHms s 2,205,345

GOLF, BALL RETRIEVER Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IJI l Aiiorneys Patented June 18, 1940 ATENT ,OFFlE eons BALL RETRIEVER CharlesChristensen, New London, Conn.

Application March 22,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in golfball retrievers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which willfacilitate the recovery of golf balls from bodies of water, bushes, etc.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a golf ballretriever of the aforementioned character comprising a pair of pivotallymounted coacting jaws of a novel construction and arrangement forgripping a golf ball therebetween, together with novel means foractuating said jaws.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide aretriever of the character described comprising means for inserting golftees in the ground and removing said tees therefrom.

A still further important object of the inven tion is to provide a golfball retriever comprising 20 a swinging prop for supporting the devicewhen said device is not in use, together with novel means for actuatingsaid prop to operative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a 25 golf ball retrieverof the character set forth which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly eficient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a golf ball retrieverconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section,showing the connection of the prop operating link to the jaw actuatinglever.

1939, Serial No. 263,506

the lower portions of the jaws, showing the manner of clamping a golftee therebetween.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises ametallic Ii tube I of suitable length and diameter, said tube being openat both ends. Fixed in the upper end portion of the tube I is a curvedhandle 2. Secured by screws 3 in the lower end portion of the tube I isa bushing 4. This is shown to ad- 10 vantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Mounted for swinging movement in a pair of eyes 5 on the lower endportion of the tube I is a pair of coacting jaws 6 and I. The jaws Iiand I are adapted to clamp a golf ball therebetween,

as at 8. Each of the jaws 6 and l is formed from a length of suitablewire bent in a manner to form a loop or ring '9 for the reception of theball 8. After forming the loop or ring 9, this wire is twisted together,as at Ill. The end por- 20 tions of this wire then extend outwardly, asat H, then upwardly, as at I2 and terminate in inturned trunnions or thelike I3 which are journalled in the eyes 5. Thus, the jaws 6, and. 'Iare mounted on the lower end of the tube I for swinging movement towardand away from each other.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, it will be observedthat the lower portion of the loop 9 of the jaw I has formed therein alaterally extending substantially U-shaped portionld for the receptionof a golf tee I5. Extending across the lower portion of the loop 9 ofthe jaw I is a bar I6 which is engageable with the head of the tee I5.The jaw 6 is adapted to 85 clamp the golf tee I5 in the portion I4 ofthe jaw (beneath the bar l6.

Mounted for vertical movement in the tube I is a rod I! which extendsslidably through the bushing 4. The rod I1 is operatively connected at40 its lower end to the jaws 6 and I through the medium of links l8. Itwill be noted that the links H! are loosely connected to the twistedportions III of the jaws 6 and 1. Mounted on the rod I! in the tube I isa collar I9. The reference numeral 20 designates a coil spring in thetube I having one end engaged with the bushing 4 and its other endengaged beneath the collar I9 for moving the rod ll upwardly in a mannerto close the jaws 6 and l. Projecting from the upper portion of the tubeI is a pair of ears 2|. The reference numeral 22 designates a leveradjacent the handle 2 which is pivotally mounted between the ears 2|, asat 23. Spaced collars 24 are mounted on the upper end portion of the rodll,

Projecting from the pivoted end of the lever 22 is a fork 25 whichextends through an opening provided therefor between the ears 2! intothe tube l and straddles the rod l7 between the collars 24. Thus, therod I! is operatively connected to the lever 22 for actuation thereby.

Pivotally mounted on the tube I is a supporting prop 26. A clip 21 isprovided on the lower portion of the tube I for releasably securing theprop 26 in inoperative position. A spring 28 is connected to the prop 26for returning said prop to inoperative position. The prop 26 isconnected to the lever 22 for actuation thereby through the medium ofmeans including a link 29. One end of the link 29 is connected to an arm30 on the upper portion of the prop 26 by a pin and slot connection 3|,thus permitting slight movement of said link 29 independently of theprop 26. The

upper end of the link 29 is adjustably connected to the lever 22 throughthe medium of a resilient loop 32 which is slidable on a substantiallystraight, horizontal inner portion 33 of said lever. As shown toadvantage in Figs. 4 and of the drawings, the portion 33 of the lever 22has formed therein depressions 34 and 35 for the reception of a detent36 which is pressed into the loop 32.

It is thought that manner in which the device is used will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To retrieve a golf ball,the

lever 22 is swung toward the handle 2, thus forcing the rod l1downwardly against the tension of the coil spring 20 in a manner to openthe jaws 5 and I through the medium of the links l8. Then, by releasingthe lever 22 the jaws 6 and I are closed by the coil spring 20 forfirmly clamping the golf ball therebetween. It will be observed that theconstruction and arrangement is such that the lever 22 is adapted to beactuated by the fingers of the same hand which grips the handle 2. Byclamping a golf tee l5 between the lower portions of the jaws 6 and I inthe manner shown to advantage in Fig. of the drawings, said golf tee maybe conveniently inserted in the ground or removed therefrom. The bar l6engages the head of the golf tee for forcing said golf tee into theground upon the application of downward pressure on the device. With thelink 29 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, movementof the lever 22 toward the handle 2 swings the supporting prop 26outwardly to operative position, as suggested in broken lines in saidFig. 1 of the drawings.

However, when it is desired to operate only the jaws 6 and I and leavethe prop 26 in inoperative position, the loop 32 is pushed inwardly to apoint closely adjacent the pivot 23 of the lever 22. Then, when thelever 22 is actuated the pin and slot connection 3| will permit thecomparatively slight movement that will be given the link 29 withoutoperating the prop 26. The detent 36 is adapted to snap into the socketsor depressions 34 and 35 for releasably securing the link 29 in eitherof its positions.

It is believed that the many advantages of a golf ball retrieverconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement" of partsmay be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, coacting jawsmounted for swinging movement on one end of the shaft, each of said jawsbeing formed'from wire comprising a loop, one of said jaws furthercomprising a substantially U-shaped laterally projecting portion on itsrespective loop for the reception of a golf tee, a bar mounted in theloop of said one jaw for engagement on the golf tee, and means on theshaft for operating the jaws.

2. A golf ball retriever comprising a shaft, a pair of coacting jawspivotally mounted on said shaft and adapted to clamp a golf balltherebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operativelyconnecting the jaws to said lever for actuation thereby, a supportingprop for the shaft pivotally mounted thereon, and means operativelyconnecting said prop to the lever for actuation thereby.

3. A golf ball retriever comprising a shaft, a pair of coacting jawspivotally mounted on the shaft and adapted to clamp a golf balltherebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operativelyconnecting the jaws to said lever for actuation thereby, a supportingprop for the shaft pivotally mounted on said shaft, and a linkoperatively connecting the prop to the lever for actuation thereby, saidlink having one end slidably connected to the lever for adjustmenttoward or away from the pivotal mounting of said lever.

CHARLES CHRISTENSEN.

